Door clamp device

ABSTRACT

A clamp device for securing rolling doors or partitions in closed position. The device includes a pivot arm movable from an open position to a closed position extending over the bottom roller of the flexible door and means for locking the pivot arm in the closed position to resist upward movement of the door roller. Cooperating with the pivot arm is a flexible gasket below the roller which engages the roller through its axial length so that wind forces upon the closed door will cause the roller to engage and embed itself within the gasket. The entire door clamp device, when desired, may be removed from the supporting floor structure and may be opened and closed from either side of the door.

United States Patent [72] inventor Ralph L- KIISS 776,757 12/1904 Rankin 292/256.5 Findlay, Ohio 1,564,104 12/1925 Olson 292/79X [21] Appl. No. 775,325 2,797,748 7/1957 Frydryk.... 292/256.5X [22] Filed Nov. 13,1968 3,398,779 8/1968 Kuss 160/243 g i g g Inc Primary ExaminerRichard E. Moore sslgne y Ohio Attorney Owen & Owen ABSTRACT: A clamp device for securing rolling doors or par- [S4] g titions in closed position. The device includes a pivot arm g g movable from an open position to a closed position extending US. Clt t ver the bottom roller of the flexible door and means for 1 llll- E059 19/14 locking the pivot arm in the closed position to resist upward [50] Field of Search 160/243- movement of h d0 1- roller. Cooperating with the pivot arm 2 233, 231, 194, 256-5, is a flexible gasket below the roller which engages the roller i 79, 237 through its axial length so that wind forces upon the closed door will cause the roller to engage and embed itself within the [56] Rat-mm c'ted gasket. The entire door clamp device, when desired, may be UNITED STATES A S removed from the supporting floor structure and may be V 758,952 5/1904 Baxter 292/210 opened and closed from either side of the door.

- PATENTEU FEB 1 6 I971 SHEET 1 (IF 2 INVENTOR:

RALPH L Kuss. BY{ 2 C 2 PATENTEn-Fmsmn I EJ563591 SHEET20F2 INVENTOR: R LPH L. Kass.

BYQww-Q DOOR CLAMP DEVICE This invention relates to a clamping or locking device for use with rolling flexible doors of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,398,779. More specifically, the invention relates to a door clamp or locking device which is removably placed upon the floor below the path of the vertically moving roller of a flexible door and is associated with a flexible sealing strip secured to the floor and extending across the expanse of the door. When the door is closed so that the roller is in its lowermost position resting upon the sealing strip, the clamp device is moved to a closed position such that the door roller is secured between the movable portion of the clamp and the flexible sealing strip and such that upward movement of the roller is prevented along with unintentional rotation of the roller.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Flexible doors or building partitions such as that described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,398,779 are particularly advantageous for closing or partitioning large horizontal areas, such as aircraft hangar doors and the like. Because of the large expanse of the flexible fabric, forces encountered from wind loads are considerable and thus require positive means for preventing unintentional upward movement or rotation of the door roller. In addition, it is desirable to provide an effective means for sealing the space between the roller and the adjacent floor to prevent air drafts or water from entering the building. While various holddown mechanisms have been tried, certain disadvantages have arisen due to the complex nature of these mechanisms and the desirability of keeping the space or floor unobstructed when the door is in open position. In addition, due to the large forces created by wind loads upon the closed doors, the mechanisms previously used in association with such doors have been ineffective to provide an airtight and watertight junction between the roller when in its lowermost position and the supporting floor surface, and have not prevented the unintentional rotation of the roller caused by the wind loads which tend to unwind and thus slacken the fabric curtain.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide a positive clamp or locking device for flexible doors or partitions of the type described which can be easily operated from either side of the door or partition, and is removable so that it present no obstruction to vehicles passing through the door when in open position. It is another object of this invention to provide a door clamp or locking device which, when associated with a flexible sealing strip positioned below the door roller, will securely clamp the roller upon the sealing strip in airtight and watertight engagement, will prevent upward movement and undesired rotation of the roller, and will prevent twisting or axial misalignment of the roller.

The foregoing objects are accomplished through use of a clamping device which is removably secured to the floor of the building adjacent the position of the roller when the door is closed, and which includes a pivoted locking arm movable from an open position at which the pivot arm lies adjacent the vertical path of the roller to a closed position in which extreme portions of the pivot arm pass over the center of the roller so that the roller is, in effect, cradled between the closed pivot arm and the flexible strip. When so closed, the pivot arm is locked to prevent upward movement caused by forces exerted upon the roller and also holds the roller in sealing engagement with the flexible strip to provide the desired airtight and watertight seal and to also prevent undesired rotation of the roller due to frictional engagement between the roller and the flexible sealing strip throughout the length of these members.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of the door clamp device of this invention as it is associated with a flexible door of the type described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,398,779, showing the door clamp device in open position;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the clamp device shown in closed position, with the pivot arm extending over a flexible sealing strip;

FIG. 3 is a view in elevation taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 showing, on an enlarged scale, the door clamp device in open posiition with its pivot arm adjacent the path of the door roller; an

FIG. 4 is a view in elevation similar to FIG. 3 but showing the door clamp device in closed position with its pivot arm extending over the door roller which rests upon the flexible sealing strip.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows the door clamp, generally indicated by reference number 10, positioned on the floor of the building adjacent a flexible sealing strip 11 which extends across the width of the door below the path of the door roller 12. As described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,398,779, movement of the door roller 12 is guided by a vertically extending track on each end of the door roller 12. A drive mechanism (not shown) associated with the roller causes it to turn in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction to thus raise or lower the roller as it wraps or unwraps itself on the flexible curtain 13 wound thereon. The upper edge of the flexible curtain 13 is secured to a door header or lintel 14 by means of a removable clamp 15, the details of which are disclosed in my copending U.S. Pat. application, Ser. No. 754,862, filed Aug. 23, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,464,480.

The flexible sealing strip 11, whose uncompressed cross section is best seen in FIG. 3, extends across the width of the door directly below the path of the door roller 12 so that, when the door roller 12 is at its lowermost position, as indicated in phantom in FIG. 1, it rests upon the flexible strip 11 throughout its length, as shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the door clamp 10 includes a base plate 16 having parallel front and rear edges 17 and 18, respectively, which are adapted to be associated with securing gibs or cleats 19, 20 and 21 which are secured to the floor or support surface by ordinary bolts or lag screws 22. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the cleats 19-21 has a laterally extending lip which lies over the front or rear edge 17 or 18 of the base plate 16 to clamp the base plate in position upon the floor. The base plate can be clamped permanently in position by means of the cleats 19-21, but preferably the clearance between the lip of the cleats 19-21 is such that the base plate 16 may be slidably removed therefrom by moving the base plate 16 parallel to the axis of the door roller 21. Unintentional movement of the base plate 16 is prevented by portions of the door clamp 10 which liebetween the cleats 20 and 21, as will be subsequently explained.

Extending upwardly from the base plate 16 is a pair of rigid bosses 23 which terminate in a bearing journal for a pivot shaft 24 extending through the bosses 23. The pivot shaft 24 supports a pivoted locking arm 25 which includes a lower shaft journal 26 supported by the pivot shaft 24 between the ends of the bosses 23. A guide roller 27, preferably comprised of a low friction material such as nylon, ispositioned on each end of the pivot shaft 24 and the pivot shaft 24 is held in position by means of a cotter pin 28 or other appropriate fastening device at each end outside of the guide rollers 27. The locking arm 25 includes a forward leg 29 and a rearwardly extending portion terminating in a journal 30 for supporting a shaft 31 which supports a lift pin 32. The entire locking arm 25 is preferably a unitary casting having a flange extending around its outer periphery connected by an interior web with an aperture to provide an inside hand grip, designated by reference numeral 33. The contour of the outer flange extending around the locking am 25, in the section between the shaft journal 26 and the end of the forward leg 29, is arcuate shaped to conform with the curvature of the door roller 12, as seen in FIG. 4. This arcuate-shaped, contoured surface, designated by reference numeral 34, is preferably at least one inch in width to provide a broad surface for supporting the forces exerted by the door roller 12 upon the locking arm 25 in the event that portions of the fabric wound on the door roller 12 may contact this surface. The forward leg 29 of the locking arm 25 terminates in a journal 35 for a roller pin 36 which supports several guide rollers 37 of a low friction material similar to that comprising the guide rollers 27. A cotter pin 38 or other suitable device is used on each end of the roller pin 36 to secure the guide rollers 37 and the roller pin 36 in place. The guide rollers 27 and 37 bear against the door roller 12 when the locking arm 25 is in closed position.

Pivotally journaled on the shaft 31 at the rear extremity of the locking arm 25 is the lift pin 32 which includes an upper section 39 and a lower section 40 joined by an oppositely threaded adjustment bolt 41 which, when turned, functions like a turnbuckle to effectively shorten or lengthen the lift pin 32. The lower section 40 of the lift pin 32 is pivotally journaled on a shaft 42 which extends through a shaft yoke 43 which is secured to one end of an elongate operating lever 44 which extends across the base plate 16, under the position of the door roller 12, and terminates in a handle 45. As seen in FIG. 1, the operating lever 44 may extend between adjacent ends of two sections of the flexible sealing strip 11 so that it lies below the upper surface of the strip and will not come in contact with the door roller 12 when it is in its lowermost position, as shown in FIG. 4. In addition, the operating lever 44 lies between the cleats and 21 as seen in FIG. 2 to, thus, prevent unintended sliding movement of the base plate 16 relative to these cleats 20 and 21.

The operation of the door clamp 10 previously described is best understood with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 which show the clamp in its open and closed positions, respectively. Referring to FIG. 3, the locking arm is supported in the position shown by the pivot shaft 24 extending through the bosses 23 and by the upper section 39 of the lift pin 32 which lies upon the base plate 16. In this position, the center of gravity of the locking arm 25 is well to the left of the axis of the pivot shaft 24 and the guide rollers 37 and 27 are positioned to the left of the path of the door roller 12 so that the door may be opened and closed without interference from the door clamp. The rollers 27 will bear against the door roller 12 when the locking arm 25 is open, as shown in FIG. 3, to prevent unintended inward movement of the door roller 25.

When the door roller 12 is at its lowermost position resting upon the sealing strip 11, as shown in FIG. 4, the door clamp may be closed either by lifting the locking arm 25 by its handle 33 (from inside the building) or by pushing inwardly upon the handle 45 attached to the operating lever 44 (from outside the building). When the door clamp is closed by lifting it by the handle 33, the locking arm 25 pivots about the axis of the pivot shaft 24 to the position shown in FIG. 4, which movement pulls the lift pin 32 through its.vertical position and moves the operating lever 44 inwardly to its position shown in FIG. 4. To facilitate movement of the operating lever 44 and the lower section 40 of the lift pin 32, a pair of rollers 46 may be journaled on the shaft 42 connecting these members so that the rollers 46 roll along the upper surface of the base plate 16. When the door clamp is closed by pushing the operation lever 44 inwardly, to the left as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the locking arm 25 is moved to its closed position by the force exerted by the operating lever 44 and lift pin 32 on the rear portion of the locking arm 25 which causes it to pivot clockwise toward its closed position. In either case, as soon as clockwise movement of the locking arm 25 proceeds to a point where the center of gravity of the locking arm 25 moves to the right of the axis of the pivot shaft 24, the clamp will move by itself to the closed position shown in FIG. 4. This is advantageous in that opening and closing the door clamp is facilitated in that an initial force applied by the operator is necessary only until the center of gravity of the locking arm 25 crosses the axis of the pivot shaft 24 and thence the clamp is thereafter self-opening or self-closing. Thus, the locking arm 25 will always be fully open or closed and cannot be halfway between these positions to interfere with movement of the door roller 12.

Once the door clamp is fully closed with the locking arm 25 in the position shown in FIG. 4, the lower section 40 of the lift pin 32 will move to the left (beyond its vertical position) to rest against a flange 47 extending upwardly from the base plate 16. In this position, the door clamp is self-locking in that any counterclockwise movement of the locking arm 25 will be resisted by the lift pin 32 which is urged against the base plate 16 and its flange 47. As shown in FIG. 4, the flange 47 is positioned to the left of a vertical line extending through the axis of the shaft 31 supporting the upper section 39 of the lift pin 32 to so that a downward force upon this pin will further urge the lower portion 40 of the lift pin 32 against the flange 47 and base plate 16.

The door clamp thus described is effective to secure the door roller 12 against unintentional rotation and upward movement for the following reasons. Firstly, when in closed position, the vertical distance between the lowermost portion of the guide rollers 37 on the forward leg 29 of the locking arm 25 and the upper surface of the flexible sealing strip 11 is less than the effective diameter of the door roller so that outward movement of the door roller 12 from the pocket" formed by the locking arm 25 and sealing strip 11 is impossible. Secondly, unintentional rotation of the door roller 12 is prevented by coaction between the guide rollers 27 and 37 on the locking arm 25 and the surfaces of the flexible strip 11 which are in contact with the roller. As previously explained, wind loads upon the flexible curtain 13, when the door is in the closed position as shown in FIG. 4, will pull upwardly on the curtain and, thus, cause a rotational moment in a counterclockwise direction on the door roller 12. Because the door roller 12 and the curtain wound thereuponare in contact with the upper surface of the flexible strip 11 throughout its length, this counterclockwise force, along with the weight of the roller, will in effect further embed the adjacent surfaces of the roller into the flexible strip 11, causing the roller to be urged against the guide rollers 28 and the portions of the flexible strip 11 in contact with the lower portions of the roller, in the area designated by reference numeral 48 in FIG. 4. Thus, the unintended rotational forces due to wind loads upon the curtain 13 act to further embed the roller 12 and in the upper surface of the flexible strip 11 to thus increase the airtight and watertight integrity of the door.

It will be seen that the invention thus described has the aforementioned advantages of providing a selectively releasable clampdown or lock for the roller of the door when in closed position which may be operated from inside or outside of the building. It is further advantageous in that, when locked, the roller is prevented from undesired lifting or rotation and, in fact, additional wind loads upon the canvas further engage the contact between the roller and its flexible sealing strip. Finally, the device is partially self-operating due to the relationship between the center of gravity of the relatively heavy locking arm which passes over its pivot point so that once movement is started by the operator, the locking arm will complete its movement from open or closed position and will not stop halfway between these positions to interfere with movement of the door roller.

Various modifications of the above-described preferred embodiment will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the attached claims.

Iclaim:

1. A door clamp device adapted for use with a flexible door having a roller at the bottom edge thereof, comprising, 'in 1 combination, a base plate, a .locking arm pivotally secured relative to said base plate and adapted to move from an open position adjacent but clear of the path of said door roller to a closed position extending over said door roller when in its lowermost position, said locking arm including an arcuate leg extending from the pivot axis thereof, which leg, when in said closed position, extends from one side across the top of said door roller and below the upper surface thereof on the other side to prevent unintentional upward and lateral movement of said door roller, said arcuate leg having a center of gravity spaced from the pivot axis thereof and which lies on one side of the pivot axis when in said open position and on the other side of the pivot axis when in said closed position, and means for securing said locking arm in said closed position.

2. The door clamp device of claim 1 which further includes a resilient sealing strip positioned below the vertical path of said door roller and having an upper surface extending substantially throughout the length of said door roller to engage and support said roller when in its lowermost position.

3. The door clamp device of claim 1 wherein said base plate includes parallel front and rear edges adapted for sliding engagement with flanged cleats secured to the floor of the buildmg.

4. The door clamp device of claim 1 wherein said locking arm includes pairs of guide rollers pivotally secured at each edge of said arcuate leg and adapted to contact said door roller when said locking arm is in said closed position.

5. The door clamp device of claim 1 wherein said means for securing said locking arm in said closed position comprises a lift pin having an upper end pivotally secured to a rear portion of said locking arm and a lower end pivotally secured to a horizontally extending operating lever, said lift pin being movable from a first position adjacent said base plate and parallel to said operating lever when said locking arm is in open position to a second position substantially normal to said base plate with said lower end thereof resting upon said base plate when said locking arm is in said closed position whereby movement of said locking arm from said closed toward said open position is resisted by said lift pin when in said second position.

6. The door clamp device of claim 5 wherein said lift pin is adjustable in length.

7. The door clamp device of claim 6 wherein said lift pin includes an adjustment bolt having oppositely threaded ends engaged with opposed upper and lower sections of said lift pin whereby rotation of said adjustment bolt relative to said upper and lower sections will vary the effective length of said lift pin.

8. A holddown device for a curtain type door having a roller at the lower edge thereof, comprising a base plate adapted to be affixed relative to the door roller, spaced upstanding boss means formed by said base plate, a locking member, first pivot pin means pivotally supporting said locking member upon said base plate boss means and between said boss means, a first pair of antifriction rollers rotatably supported upon the outer ends of said first pivot pin means adjacent said boss means for contacting the door roller, said locking member having outwardly extending leg portion, second pivot pin means supported at the outer end of said leg portion, a second pair of antifriction rollers rotatably supported on the opposite ends of said second pivot pin means and adapted to engage the closure, a lift pin assembly, third pivot pin means interconnecting one end of said lift pin assembly with said locking member, means pivotally and slidably supporting the other end of said lift pin assembly upon said base plate for moving said locking member between a locked position and an unlocked position, and operating handle means for operating said other end of said lift pin assemblv.

9. An apparatus for locking in closed, lower position a roller secured to the bottom edge of a rolling flexible door comprising, in combination, a resilient sealing gasket secured v to the floor below the vertical path of the door roller and extending across the width of said door, a door clamp device secured to the floor adjacent said resilient sealing gasket, said clamp device including a base plate secured to said floor, a

locking arm pivotally secured to said base plate and movable from an open position ad acent but free of the path of said door roller to a closed position overlying said roller, said locking arm having an arcuate-shaped front leg extending over said roller when in closed position and an oppositely extending rear section, and means for moving said locking arm between said open and closed positions including a lift pin pivotally secured to said rear section of said locking arm and having a length substantially equal to the vertical distance between said rear section of said locking arm and said base plate whereby movement of said locking arm from said closed position toward said open position is resisted by said lift pin when in vertical position between said base plate and said rear portion of said locking arm.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said locking arm, when in closed position, extends over and partially around said door roller urging said roller upon said resilient sealing gasket whereby forces exerting a turning moment upon said roller are resisted by engagement between said roller and portions of said locking arm and said resilient sealing gasket. 

1. A door clamp device adapted for use with a flexible door having a roller at the bottom edge thereof, comprising, in combination, a base plate, a locking arm pivotally secured relative to said base plate and adapted to move from an open position adjacent but clear of the path of said door roller to a closed position extending over said door roller when in its lowermost position, said locking arm including an arcuate leg extending from the pivot axis thereof, which leg, when in said closed position, extends from one side across the top of said door roller and below the upper surface thereof on the other side to prevent unintentional upward and lateral movement of said door roller, said arcuate leg having a center of gravity spaced from the pivot axis thereof and which lies on one side of the pivot axis when in said open position and on the other side of the pivot axis when in said closed position, and means for securing said locking arm in said closed position.
 2. The door clamp device of claim 1 which further includes a resilient sealing strip positioned below the vertical path of said door roller and having an upper surface extending substantially throughout the length of said door roller to engage and support said roller when in its lowermost position.
 3. The door clamp device of claim 1 wherein said base plate includes parallel front and rear edges adapted for sliding engagement with flanged cleats secured to the floor of the building.
 4. The door clamp device of claim 1 wherein said locking arm includes pairs of guide rollers pivotally secured at each edge of said arcuate leg and adapted to contact said door roller when said locking arm is in said closed position.
 5. The door clamp device of claim 1 wherein said means for securing said locking arm in said closed position comprises a lift pin having an upper end pivotally secured to a rear portion of said locking arm and a lower end pivotally secured to a horizontally extending operating lever, said lift pin being movable from a first position adjacent said base plate and parallel to said operating lever when said locking arm is in open position to a second position substantially normal to said base platE with said lower end thereof resting upon said base plate when said locking arm is in said closed position whereby movement of said locking arm from said closed toward said open position is resisted by said lift pin when in said second position.
 6. The door clamp device of claim 5 wherein said lift pin is adjustable in length.
 7. The door clamp device of claim 6 wherein said lift pin includes an adjustment bolt having oppositely threaded ends engaged with opposed upper and lower sections of said lift pin whereby rotation of said adjustment bolt relative to said upper and lower sections will vary the effective length of said lift pin.
 8. A holddown device for a curtain type door having a roller at the lower edge thereof, comprising a base plate adapted to be affixed relative to the door roller, spaced upstanding boss means formed by said base plate, a locking member, first pivot pin means pivotally supporting said locking member upon said base plate boss means and between said boss means, a first pair of antifriction rollers rotatably supported upon the outer ends of said first pivot pin means adjacent said boss means for contacting the door roller, said locking member having outwardly extending leg portion, second pivot pin means supported b at the outer end of said leg portion, a second pair of antifriction rollers rotatably supported on the opposite ends of said second pivot pin means and adapted to engage the closure, a lift pin assembly, third pivot pin means interconnecting one end of said lift pin assembly with said locking member, means pivotally and slidably supporting the other end of said lift pin assembly upon said base plate for moving said locking member between a locked position and an unlocked position, and operating handle means for operating said other end of said lift pin assembly.
 9. An apparatus of for locking in closed, lower position a roller secured to the bottom edge of a rolling flexible door comprising, in combination, a resilient sealing gasket secured to the floor below the vertical path of the door roller and extending across the width of said door, a door clamp device secured to the floor adjacent said resilient sealing gasket, said clamp device including a base plate secured to said floor, a locking arm pivotally secured to said base plate and movable from an open position adjacent but free of the path of said door roller to a closed position overlying said roller, said locking arm having an arcuate-shaped front leg extending over said roller when in closed position and an oppositely extending rear section, and means for moving said locking arm between said open and closed positions including a lift pin pivotally secured to said rear section of said locking arm and having a length substantially equal to the vertical distance between said rear section of said locking arm and said base plate whereby movement of said locking arm from said closed position toward said open position is resisted by said lift pin when in vertical position between said base plate and said rear portion of aid locking arm.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said locking arm, when in closed position, extends over and partially around said door roller urging said roller upon said resilient sealing gasket whereby forces exerting a turning moment upon said roller are resisted by engagement between said roller and portions of said locking arm and said resilient sealing gasket. 